Advertising sign and the like



P 1932- J. E. BIELSKI 1,878,368

ADVERTISING SIGN AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1952 2 speets-snet 1 1a 12 J 1.? 1a

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Sept. 20, 1932. J. E. BIELSKI 1,873,363

' ADVERTISING 3mm AND THE LIKE Filed May-9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 JOSEPH E. BIELSKI, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS ADVERTISING SIGN AND LIKE Application filed May 9, 1932. Serial No. 610,030.

This invention relates to advertising signs and the like, and has for its principal object to produce a signpanel or carrying element upon the front face of which reading matter,

pictorial representation orornamentation, or a combination thereof, is visible by reflected light in front of the panel, and having depicted at its rear different reading matter, pictorial representation or ornamentation, or a combination thereof, which becomes legibly displayed on the front face by transmitted and diffused light when the panel or carrying element is illuminated at the rear thereof, with the efiect of an illusionary eclipse or elimination of the first mentioned matter which is displayable on the front face of the panel or carrying element by reflected light as aforesaid. Other objects and advantages to be attained will hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention consists in the novel treatment and arrangement of the panel or carrying element as hereinafter described and set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specification, and serving to illustrate practical adaptations of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front face view of a sign panel, showing the matter depicted on the front face when subjected to reflected light;

Fig. 2 is a rear face view of the same panel, showing the matter depicted thereon reversely';

Fig. 3 is a front face view of the panel, showing the effect when the panel is exposed to light at the rear thereof and the light is transmitted through the panel and diffused to have the illusionary effect of obscuring or obliterating the matter which is depicted on the front face of the panel or carrying element; v

Fig. 4c is an end edge view of the panel or carrying element;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, more or less schematic, of a sign structure illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modified adaptation of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a View illustrating a further modimaterial of the characterof sheet bakelite or other commercial material having the 'requi-, site qualities of transparency or translucency, the relative thickness of the panel or plate 10 being varied to suit different conditions.

On the front face of the panel bodyor plate 10 is a coating of opaque paint or other suitable material which is impervious to or impenetrable by light, said paint or material being in any desirable color and, of course, in

different colors in depicting the reading mat-- ter, pictorial representation or ornamentation to be displayed. It is in the peculiar application of this coating to the front face of the panel wherein the present invention resides, and the invention maybe generally described as consisting in arranging the coating in separate stripes or bodies with intervening unpainted or uncoated lines, relatively narrower in transverse dimensions than the painted or coated stripes or bodies, said unpainted or uncoated lines being either horizontal, vertical, or crossed in parallel relation, or, the uncoated lines, spots or spaces may be irregularly and fancifully arranged to produce scenic and other pictorial representations.

'As shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the coated background for the depiction on the front faceofthe panel is represented as in horizontal lines or bars 11 with the inter-' mediate narrower uncoated lines or spaces 12, said background, as illustrated, being in black, and, for the purposes of illustration, the word Eat is depicted, the portions of the stripes or bars 11 included in the letters M 13 comprising the word being cross-lined to indicate that the letters are colored red, said portions 13, of course, being opaque, the same as the remainder of the stripes or bars 11'. i

The matter depicted on the rear face of the loo 'ianel body or carrying element 10 to be dis- .ilayed with illusionary effect on the front ace of the panel by transmitted and diffused light is produced in transparent or translucent colors, in contradistinction to the opaque coating and covering of the front face of the panel or carrying element. In the illustrative adaptation of the invention the matter depicted on the rear face of the panel body or carrying element 10, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, includes the word Bread in association with the characters XL, as indicated at 14, 15, respectively, shown in yellow color on a background 16, colored green, and outlined as at 17 to represent a loaf of bread, the whole embordered by a background 18, colored blue, the respective colors indicated being merely selected arbitrarily for illustrative purposes in distinguishing the different portions of the matter depicted and, of course, being subject to considerable variation in practice,

It is noted that the lettering depicted on I the'back of the panel body or carrying element 10, as shown in Fig. 2, is produced in reverse order, viewed from the rear, so as to be displayed in regular order on the front face of the panel, viewed from the front, when light is transmitted therethrough from the rear and diffused at the front. This effect is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings and is brought about by the peculiar arrangement of the opaque lines 11 and including the distinctively colored portions 13 thereof, on the front face of the panel, with the intervening uncoatcd narrower lines12 through which the light is transmitted and diffused with divergence from each of said uncoated lines 12 and convergence over each of the intervening opaque bars 11, thereby producing the illusionary efiect of obscuring the matter on the front face and rendering it absolutely illegible and at the same time bringing out clearly in illumination the matter which is depicted on the rear face of the panel body or carrying element 10 and brought through with the transmitted light. By divergence it is meant that the light passing through the flat transparent body panel or plate 10 where the narrower lines 12 occur between the opaque bars 11, spreads because the rays are transmitted at an angle to each other and that they reach the eyes of the observer through many of the lines 12 which are in different planes above and below the level of his eyes, and at the same time the rays cross each other in front of the opaque bars and in that sense there is, of course, convergence. As the matter depictedon the rear face of the panel body or plate 10 is of transparent coating material, the coloring thereof is transmitted with the rays of light through the panel in the manner just above noted, with the result that the matter depicted on the front face of the panel or plate in opaque coating material is eclipsed by the illuminated picturization which is brought through the panel body or plate frofln the rear with the transmitted rays of Obviously, any desirable arrangement of lettering, picturization or ornamentation, either separately or in combination, may be produced on either face of the glass or other material comprising the panel or carrying element, and the bars 11 or other opaque bodies on the front face may be applied by painting, stenciling, printing, transfer, or other approved process, or the matter on the front'face may be originally applied as a complete coating and the lines 11 or other uncoated' spots or spaces may be provided by scratching or shaving the coating from the surface of the panel in such places where the light is to be transmittedthrough the panel. It is further obvious that the matter on the rear face of the body panel or carrying element 10 may be applied through any desirable process and the use of any translucent paint or material, such as decalcomania transfers, or even fabric such. as paper or the like which is penetrable by light and in the desired color. So, too, in some cases portions of the surface where lettering and other characters are depicted may be left uncoated.

The sign of the present invention may be embodied in many different adaptations, a simple and practical application of the invention being illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings wherein a housing 19, which is of general rectangular form, is closed throughout except for an opening in the front wall where the" panel or carrying element 10 is placed, the housing having in the lower portion thereof an electric lamp or lamps 20 by p:

which the interior of the housing is lighted. In use the lamp is intermittently lighted by any suitable means, in some cases by means of a flasher socket, or, in other words, a socket of the type in which a thermal element is pro videdso as to break the circuit when the element becomes heated to a certain degree, or the circuit in which the lamp is located may be alternately opened and closed by any suitable or approved device such as is usually employed for such purposes.

In the device just above described the matter depicted on the front face of the panel 10 is visible during the time the lamp 20 is unlighted, but as soon as the interior of the housing 19 is illuminated the light is transmitted through the panel 10, projecting the matter depicted on the rear face and making itvisible on the front face of the panel with the illusion as hereinbefore described of eclipsing or obliterating the matter which is of the panel 10 is supplied through a lamp panel.

In Fig. 7 the sign is applied to'a transom or opening of similar character above a show window or doorway. In this modification the panel 10 is mounted in an opening in a non-transparent partition plate 24:,on opposite sides of which are reflector hoods 25 and 26. In the one hood is located a lamp 27, and'in the other a lamp 28, thevlamp 27 lighting the front face of the panel 10 and the lamp 28 lighting the rear face thereof, said lamps being alternately lighted so as to correspondingly display the matter depicted on the front'and rear faces of the panel, as in the two modifications just previously described. 7

I11 Fig. 8 a housing 19 is divided by a central partition 29 into two compartments 30 and 31, respectively. In the front wall of the housing is an opening in which a front panel 1O is located. In this modification, as shown, the panel 1O has matter depicted only on its front face, and with opaque paint or coating material, as in the preparation of the front face of said panel 10 hereinbefore described, the rear face of said panel 10 being without any picturization or other matter depicted thereon, but the front face thereof having the horizontal opaque lines 11 andintervening transparent or translucent spaces 12 The compartment 30 isintermittently lighted by a lamp 32. In the partition wall 29 is an opening in register with the opening in the front wall of the housing, of the same size and proportions, and in this latter opening is placed a panel 10 which is similar to the hereinbefore described panel 10 as far as the character of the surface preparation is concerned, except that the opaque lines 11 and intervening uncoated lines 12 run vertically of the panel instead of lengthwise. In the compartment 31 is a lamp 33.

When there is no light in either of the compartments 30 or 31, the reflected light on the front face of the panel 1O in the front wall of the housing 19 renders thematter on the face of the panel legible When the lamp 32 in-the compartment 30' is lighted, thereby illuminating said compartment 30, the matter depicted on the front face of the panel'lO is, by reflection and transmission of light, projected through the front panel 10 and displayed on the front face of the latter with. the illusionary effect of obliterating the matter which is depicted on said front However, when the lamp 32 is unlighted'and the lamp 33 in the compartment 31 is lighted, thereby illuminating said compartment 31, the matter depicted on the rear face of the panel 10 is carried by the transmission of the light through said panel 10 and also through the panel 10 where the illuminated matter is displayed on the front face of said panel 10 this being effectively accomplished by the crossing of the lines 12 and 12 The relative arrangement of the two panels 10 and 10 is shown in Fig. 9 wherein fragments of said panels are illustratedv in,

perspective. For purposes of illustration, on the front face of the front panel is depicted a letter ,T, as at 34, while on the front face of the rear panel 10 isdepicted a letter L, as at 35. The matter 18 on the rear face of the rear panel 10 may obviously be of any character and, therefore, is not indicated in detail in the view. So, too, in this last described modification or other instances where separate front andrear light penetrable panels are employed, the front panel, as 10' or the equivalent, may obviously have the display matter depicted and applied on its rear face instead of the front face, as shown, provided, of course, the panel is of glass or other material of suflicient transparency whereby the matter depicted on-the rear face is clearly visible when the panel is viewed from in front.

Obviously, the indicia, picturization, and ornamentation to be displayed may be modifled in many respects other than herein specie fically described, within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The invention, therefore, is not limited to the specific forms and arrangements shown in the drawings. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Composite display means, comprising a carrying element of light transmitting material having thereon indicia to be displayed on its front face by light reflection andat the rear thereof difierent indicia to be displayed on its front face by light transmission through the element, the 'matter depicted for said first mentioned display being produced by applied opaque material in sections separated by intervening spaces permitting transmission of light through said carrying element with'diffusive divergence played. by light reflection and on its opposite' face different indicia tobe displayed on said first mentionedface by light transmission, the matter depicted on said first mentioned face being produced by applied opaque coating material arranged in parallel bars separated by intervening parallel spaces permitting transmission of light through said carrying element with diffusive divergence from said light transmitting spaces and convergence over said opaque parallel bars on said first mentioned face whereby to eifect an illusionary obliteration of the matter depicted'on said first mentioned face, the matter depicted on the opposite face of the carrying element being of applied light penetrable material.

3. Composite display means, comprising a carrying element of light transmitting material having on one face indicia to be displayed by light reflection and on its opposite face different indicia to be displayed on said first'mentioned face by light transmission, the matter depicted on said first mentioned face being produced in a manner to create areas impenetrable by light with intervening li ht penetrable spaces permitting transmis-' b u sion of hght through said carrying element with diffusive eflect beyond said first mentioned face whereby to effect an illusionary obliteration of the matter depicted on said first mentioned face, the matter depicted on by to be projected through said body plate bytransmitted light and, by light diffusion beyond the front face of said body plate, displayed with illusionary effect as upon said front face and at the same time obliterating the matter depicted on said front face.

5. Composite display means, comprising a plate-like body of light penetrable material,

the same having matter depicted thereon for 7 display onits front face by light reflection, the depiction being produced by applied opaque coacting material interspersed with restricted uncoated areas for the transmission of light throughsaid body, and differently depicted matter arranged at the rear of said body for projection by light transmitted from the rear through said body and diffused beyond the front face thereof whereby to be luminously displayed with illusionary effect uponsaid outer face and with obliteration of the matter depicted on said front face. 7

6. A composite display sign or the like, comprising a body plate of glass or similar light penetrable material, said plate having indicia depicted on its rear face by colored translucent coating material, the front face of said plate having indicia depicted thereon in opaque coating material arranged in a multiplicity of restricted areas separated by intervening uncoated areas relatively more restricted than said coated areas, whereby the matter depicted on the front face of the plate is visible when lighted from in front thereof and the matter depicted on the rear face is projected through said plate and displayed with illusionary effect as being upon the front face of the plate with the matter on said front face obliterated by the transmission of light through the plate from the rear thereof and its diffusion at the front thereof.

7 A composite sign or picture display, comprising a panel of light penetrable material upon the rear face of which is depicted display matter in translucent condition, the front face of said panel having display matter depicted thereon with opaque coating material arranged in a multiplicity of restricted areas with intervening more restricted uncoated areas for the transmission of light through said panel, and meansfo-r applying light at front and rear of said panel to effect the alternate display of the matter depicted on each face of the panel.

8; The method of producing a composite display sign or the like, consisting in applying translucent indicia on the rear face of a plate of glass or similar light penetrable material, coating the front face of the plate with opaque material upon and by which is depicted indicia tobe displayed by light reflection, and removing restricted portions of said opaque coating from the front face of the plate whereby to separate the body of coating material into a multiplicity of restricted areas with intervening more restricted uncoated spaces for the transmission of light through the plate and the illusionary display on the front face of the plate of the matter depicted onthe rear face thereof and the obliteration thereby of the matter depicted on the front face of the plate.

9. The method of producing a composite display sign or the like, consisting in applying translucent indicia on the rear face of a plate of glass or similar light penetrable material, coating the front face of theplate with opaque material upon and by which is depicted indicia to be displayed by light reflection, and removing portions of the opaque coating from the front face of the plate in parallel lines whereby to divide the coating into bars of restricted width with intervening uncovered spaces of relatively more restricted Width, whereby to permit transmission of light through said plate and the projection of the indicia, from the rear of the plate and the display thereof with the illusionary effect of being upon the front face, and the obliteration of the indicia de picted on the front face.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. e

JOSEPH E. BIELSKI. 

